Best of

the Twin Cities

Best Venue to Open

The Warming House

The Warming House is a place for true music lovers. The intimate south Minneapolis listening room opened in May, with founders Brianna Lane, John Louis, and Greg Neis creating a GoFundMe campaign to help launch the nonprofit venue. The 50-person basement club shares space with Farmstead Bike Shop (owned by Neis), which adds to the communal, relaxed vibe of the room. The Warming House predominantly features acoustic performances by local and national singer-songwriters, though it also nurtures emerging performers with workshops and open mic nights. There’s no beer/wine license, so younger fans can enjoy performances without noise and distractions. No matter who’s playing the Warming House, you’ll likely come away impressed by the cozy, welcoming new space that puts the focus squarely on the music itself — where it truly belongs.